Locking device for mail-chutes.



No. 881,179. PATENTED MAR. 10. 19,08.

J. w. CUTLER.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR MAIL GHUTES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. 1906.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

iz J 22 O I anaemic: I

No. 881,179. PATENTED MAR.10, 1908.

J. W. CUTLER. LOCKING DEVICE FOR MAIL GHUTBS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. 1906.

2SHEETS-SHEET 2.

gnvewtoz a ing had to l in possession of UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH WARREN CUTLER, or

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CUTLER MAN U FA TUBING COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YOlth.

LOCKING DEVICE son MAIL-CHUTES.

Toall whom time y concern: I

Be it known that I, J osnrn WARREN CUT- LER, of, Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in-Locking Devices for. Mail-Chutes; and I .do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference bethe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention relates to improvements in mail chutes, and the object of the invention is to provide improved locking devices for effectually preventing removal or tampering therewith at the hands of unauthorized parties, While the proper authorities a suitable key may readily obtain, access to the chute for cleaning or removal of obstructions, and if necessary, the chute or parts thereof may be quickly: taken down or assembled, the interior of the chute I being accessible to the proper authorities.

' To these and other ends the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the drawings: Figure, 1' represents a front elevationofa mail chute having a'locking device embodying my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, the device being shown unlocked. Fig. 3 represents a transverse sectionthrough the chute on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Figs. 4 and 5 represent sections on the lines 4-4 and 55 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a member of the locking device, and Fig. 7 represents a vertical section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Similar parts are designated by the same numerals in the several views.

Mail chutes and other devices used in connection with the postal system should be and are required by the regulations of the Post Off ce Department, to be under exclusive control of the postal authorities in order that postal matter deposited in' th'echute or other I a pliance will be in the custodyof'these an 't orities, and thus eflectually prevent inter ception of postal matter or tampering with the chute or. other appliance for malicious purposes. Mail chutesextending throu h the several floors of a building are usua y Specification of Letters Patent.

. 6 or 7 hav'ingthe attaching lugs 8 adapted to serve as 1 atented March 10, 1908.

- Application filed. January 9, 1906. Serial No. 296,212.

constructed in sections to facilitate manufac ture and assembling, and my present invention provides a device for eflectuall locking the chute or chute sections in position' and thus prevent removal thereof by all-persons excepting the authorized officials.

ln-the present embodiment of my invention Ihave shown the proximate or abutting portions of mail chute sections 1 and 2 prefe'rably of the usual construction having the metal back 3 and sides 4-, the latter extend ing to the front of the chute and formed to contain a front panel 5 preferably of glass or other transparent material that will permit of a viewof the interior of the chute. chute is preferably provided with a flange and 9 re which in the present instance, are

spectively,

to receive screws or other-sin ole perforated securing lugs are usually arranged at the rear of their respective flanges and are adapted to rest against a suitable su port or bracket 12, the latter being adapted for attachment to a wall orother stationary object, 39 by the screws 40 and the flanges of the chute sections are detachably secured to the said support by means of the securing devices 10 and 11 respectively, channels 24 and 25'being preferably formed in the support 12 to re ceive corresponding portions'of theflanges of .the chute sections to prevent relative movement thereof While in position.

The sup ort or bracket 12 is preferably formed to t transversely of the chute and in ,rear thereof, and projectin forwardly from the support at one side of t e chute is a projection 13 ha'ving'anenlarged head 14 thereon which is formed to project beyond the at taching lugs on the chute sections, while at the opposite side of the chute a staple 15 is rovided having an eye to receive the securing part of a'lock 16. The device shown is a connection for the chute sections as Well asa fastening and sition, and in such cases it is preferable to secure both of the adjacent flangesof the sections to the support or bracket 12 at either side of the forwardly-projecting parts 13 and 15, and over these flanges is fitted a removable member or band 17 which referably ex tendsacross the-front of the c uteand has two rearwardly-eiitendingarms 1S and 19, the arin 1 8 having-'mportion 20 overlapping devices 10 and 11. These attaching e a u e .lock ng device for retaining the chute in po;

1 her is I 1 the securing devices and 11 of the chutesection flanges and provided with a slot 21 adapted to receive the projection 13 in such a way that the enlargement 14 thereon will cooperate with the removable member to retain it against the support, the removable member being engaged with, and detached from the headed projectionby a relative tilting or swinging motion about the said projection. The arm 19 of the removable mem- (provided with a protective ortion 22 forme to rest over the correspon' ing secur ing devices 10 and 11 of the attaching flanges of the. chute sections, tion 23 being 15, and when t 1e removable member is in 00- operative relation with the chute-section flanges, it may be locked insuch position by a plication of the has or other locking part 0 a suitable lock. to t e aperture of the stapie 1 5, the nature of the construction enabling various forms of locking devices to be employed for retaining the removable member in locked positioin It is usually necessary to employ securing devices for the chute at or in proximity to the abutting ends of the chute sections, 'and when the removable member and its locking device is employed in this connection, it not only serves to conceal the chute securingdevices 10 and 11 and thereby prevent the removal thereof, but, by makingthis member suificiently wide, it overlaps the proximate ends a slot or cut-away porof the chute sections and thus closes the space or joint betweeirthem, and consequently, when the removable member 17 is locked. in position, the securing devices 10 and 11 are concealed and protected by it and rovided to admit the staple I only in qui and 11 or their the securing devices 40 covered by the chute" so that they are inaccessible and cannot be loosened or tampered with by unauthorized partiesfor the purpose of removing or openmg the chute, and as the joint between the chute sections is concealed and covered by the removable member, instruments or other obstructions cannot be chute for the purpose of interce ting or ntherwise tampering with the posta matter being conveyed through the chute. However, it may be necessary or desirable to ap ly the locking device to intermediate or other portions of the chute sections on the chute proper, as this is comprehended by my invention, and while the chute and its parts are effectually secured from removal by'the removable member when it is locked in position, unlocking of this member enablesthe proper authorities to have ready access to the 1 c ute or its parts for the puiposes of cleaning,

removal of obstructions an essary repairs,

and if necessary the chute or any of its parts may be readily removed and he particular embodiment of my invention shown, may be used to advantage not inserted within the p le-i5, and these with the said pt.

for making necpm chutes priorto installation, but chutes a rea position may be readily and inexpensive y equi ped with the improvement without inte ering with the service thereof, as the supports'or wall brackets 12 may each be removed and rovided with a projection 13 and sta le 15 w ile the attachmg lugs 8 and 9 are 'iiled away to fit around these parts, and the removable member 17 is SlOl3l3B( tore'ceive the projection 13 andstaarts may be so formed and ute without requiring re- By providing an overhangin part with which one end of theremovab e member detachably cooperates, it is necessary to employ only one look, and this serves to lock both ends of the said member from removal. 1

Moreover, by fitting parts of the flanges 6 and 7 of the chute sections in channels 24 and 25 of the support 12 they will be held securely from relative movement when in position, and therefore the securing devices 10- equivalents,-may be omitted, as the removable member 17 retained in position at each end ill be suflicient to secure these flanges in osition, and this arrangement would .r en er the parts more readily detachable and would otherwise simplify the construction.

In my ending applications Serial N 0. 229,749, fi ed Oct. 24,- 1904, No. 276,515, filed Aug. 31, 1905 and. No. 294,824, filed Jan. 6, 1906, some of the features herein shovm are claimed broadly.

' I claim as my invention:

1. The combinationwith a mail chute, of a support having a staple at one side'of the chute, a member ada ted tosecure a part of the chute having etachable connections with the su port at the side 0 posite the staple and adapted to accommod tlte the staple, and a lock cooperating withthe staple for preventing unauthorized removal of said member.

2. The combination with a mail chute, of a channeled support, a part 'on the chute 1 adapted to cooperate with the channel of the support, a member adapted ,to cooperate rt on the'chute to retain it in position, and a lock for securing the said refitted to the c moval thereof.

ice

member from unauthorized removal.

e combination with a mail chute, of

a channeled support, a flange on. a part of the chute adapted to cooperate ui'th-thesaid sup- 12c jport, a member adapted to cooperatewith ,said flange to secure a part of the chute in lpositiomand a lock for preventing unauthore lzed removal of said member. j 4. The combination with a mail chute, of 3a sup ort having a staple thereon, a member ,detachably secured at one end to said support at the side of the chute and-formed to accommodate said staple, tpdaptcd to retain apart of the chute 1n posisaid member being. i 1

' ment of the chute securing means for the at' tion, and a lock cooperating withsaid staple for preventing unauthorized removal of said having sockets adaptednto receive sai attar-hing portions, and prevent vertical movetaching portions, and a .meinber controlled by a lock for concealing the sa d securmg INC-AIDS.

- '7. The combination w ith a mail chute having attaching flanges, of a support having sockets. adapted 'to receive the flanges, to prevent vertlcal movement securingdevlces for attaching the flanges to the support, and

a removable member controlled by a lock for concealingthe securing devices.

8. The combination with a mail chute having attaching flanges, of a channeled support to receive said flanges, securing means for the flanges, and a movable member controlled by a lock for concealing said securing devices.

9. The combination with a mail 'chute having attaching portions, of a support having a socket adapted to receive said attach-,

ing portions, to prevent vertical movement,

securing means for the attaching portions,'a

; member cooperating with a part o'f the chute andhaving portions for concealing the said securing means, and devices controlled by a lock for preventing unauthorized removal of said member.

10. The combination with a mail chute having attaching portions, of a support adapted to receive the said portions, securing means for said attaching portions, a

member connected to the support independently of the chute and adapted to embrace a part of the chute and having portions arranged to conceal the said securing devices, and lock-controlled means for preventing unauthorized removal of said member.

1]. The combination with a mail chute embodying two or more superposed sections having flanges at their abutting ends, of a support having channels adapted to'receive said flanges and prevent relative vertical movement thereof,'and a member controlled by a lock for securing the said flanges.

flange-securing devices, means for preventing unauthorized removal 12-. The combination with a mail chute embodying two or more superposed sections having flanges at their abutting ends, of a support adapted to receive said flanges, sc-

ouring devices forsaid flanges, directly en- 65 gaging the support and a removable member concealing thejoint between the adjacent flanges and having portions covering the and lock-controlled of said member.

13. In a mail chute the combination with a chute section having extensions at the sides, of a'bracket having projections at the ends in proximity to the projections on the chute section, a band extending over the chute and 'havingportions at the ends extending over the projections on the latter, said band detachably engagingthe bracket at one end and a key lock for securing the other end to the bracket.

14. .In a mail chute the combination with a chnte section, of a bracket or support having projections at opposite sides of t 1e chute,

one of the said projections having an aperture therein, a removable band extending over the chute detachably engaging one of the-projections on the bracket, and a key controlled lock having a portion extending through the apertured projection on the bracket and cooperating with the other end of the band to prevent its unauthorized removal.

15. In a mail chute the combination with a chute section, of a bracket having a headed rejection at one side of the chute and a perorated projection at the other, of a band ex tending over thechute and detachably engaging the headed projection at one. end of the bracket and anindependently removable locking device engagingthe other rojection on' the bracket for preventing t e movement of the band when in place.

16. In a mail chute the combination with a chute section, a bracket having an overhanging portionat one side of the chute and a perforated projection at-the other, of a r'emovable securing band extending over, the chute having a detachable llmge connection atone end with the overhanging portion on the bracket and a portion located in roximity to the perforated projection w en the band is arranged over. the chute and a key lock having a portion extending through the perforated pro ection and over the end of the band to prevent its unauthorized removal.

JOSEPH WARREN CUTLER. Witnesses: M. BRAGDON,

GILMORE, Jr. 

